Automobile jack combination



' Oct. 2 1934. V H. A. COTE 1,975,388

AUTOMOBILE JACK COMBINATION 'F'iled May 22, 1955 2 Shets-Sheet 1 AA Q 6%,

Qt. 2, I934. H. A. COTE Y 13975-388 AUTOMOBILE JACK COMBINATION Filed May 22', .1953 2 Shets-Sheet 2 nllll/l/Ill/1I/ 1/1.

inveniar,

I r w Z7- Patented Oct. 2, 1934 sir-so STATES AUTOMOBILE JACK COMBINATION Henry A. Cote,

Hartford, Conn.

Application May 22,1933, Serial No. 672,173

21 Claims.

My invention relates; to improvements .in automobile-jack combinations. of 'the .form in which the operation is controlled from the drivers seat and theobject of my :present .improvement is to -5 add to the improvements that are. shown anddescribed in my application, filed January 9, 1933, Serial No.. 650,783; so. as to enhance the convenience and .efficiency and, furthermore. to incorporate in the structure signal meansrpreferl ably in theform of a signal lamp,v tovindicate the point at which the necessary elevation of the particular wheelto be raised hasbeenattained.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammaticiside elevation showingv the generalzarrangement of my improved combination.

Fig. 2 is apartplanview of the-same.

Fig. 3-is a view .indicatingthecooperating devices that are' used for raising one of the ,rear

wheels.

Fig. 4 is. a. similaivview showing raising one ofthe frontwheels.

Fig. 5 is adiagramof the electrical circuits, the spark coil and the points'for-thedistributor being shown. i

Fig. 6 is enlarged view of the rearjack structure. Y

' Fig. '7 shows the .front jack andzassociated structure.

Fig.3 is a perspectiveview of the rim-lug.

Fig. 9 shows the junction tube or coupling portion of the connecting rodimember and associated parts.

Fig. 10 shows the brancharm of. the front jack and the unlocking lever ,iandthecam-rod.

- My improved automobile-jack combination comprises a set of four'jacks', one for each wheel, that are supported'from the chassis 10 OfQthB automobile. and that are provided with-.individual control means that are supported onv the dash 11 that operate in such away as to utilize the propelling power of the automobile :engine for efiecting the actual raising of the wheel or wheels.

As here shown, the control means are inthe {the parts-for form of a pull-button 12 that is pulledwhen a particular wheel is to be raised.

The jacks are individually hungonsuitable shafts that are .locatedadiacent an, axle ,or axle housing or. the like,- generally in. therear. thereofv positioned contact shoe makes the actual contact with the ground. I

There may be as here shown some form of lock means for checking against accidentaland 1111-: intentional movement, of the jack fromthelelevated inactive position. Thus the jack spring when free to do so serves toelevate the jack.--,to, the inactive position, at: which position the locking device is spring-snaDped-to.thelocking position. a v

The button 12 serves to effect the runlocking; as one function thereof. Another.function1there-.- of is to effect what may be described as the setting of the jack-depressing means so -thatithe actual depressing of the jack willbe efiected-ree sponsive to the backingof the car.

Backing the car first-efiects the depressing-of the jack, after which, responsive to further continued backing the particular axle housing or,

axle is elevated. At the critical'final moment a .1

In each and both-cases there is provided movable means of some form that is adapted when in. proper registration Withthe proper .part of, lug 13 on the rear rim to cooperate therewith for; effecting the depressing of the particular jack.

Also, said movable means in each and both; casesisv normally 'held in restraint vor retracted, by some form ofspring means and'is, operatively connected to the button 12 ,for movement. inopposition tosaid spring means.

-After the unlocking andythe following,- initial jack-depressing movement, involving cooperation of therim-lug 13 with the jack'settiqng means the setting means are heldagainst returnmovementby means :of an: arcuate-structure 380. that engagement with the rim-lug 13 is maintained uninterrupted until; the locking means, are brought back into registration with-the cooperating locking element. a

The rim-lug 13 comprises. two tripping ele ments. respectively the radial ,tripping1arm;16

that projects inwardly and terminates in. the form; of.;a,tripping nose 17 and the stub-pin l8'that is. farther from the axis than the nose 17-and. that projects farther inwardly within the ;space lie-.- tween the two wheels.

iii)

The nose 1'? is adapted to coact with a swinging lever 19 for actuating the associated front jack 20 when said lever is set so that the lever end 21 is in the path thereof. The swinging lever 19 projects generally upwardly from its shaft 22 that is located slightly below and to the rear of the rear axle housing 23 and is normally positioned so as to swing in a forward direction so as to lean against the said axle housing 23 or some other fixed part so as to be positioned thereby.

In such normal position the lever end 21 is below the nose 17 so that swinging the lever rearwardly will bring these parts into operative relation.

In the case of the pin 18, this cooperates with a contact plate 24 that is slidably mounted on the rear jack 25 for actuating said rear jack. A spring 26 normally holds said plate 24 in the retracted position away from the engaging position and the setting is effected by sliding said plate 24 in opposition to said spring 26. With the pin 18 engaged with the plate 24 the jack 25 is de pressed responsive to rearward rotation of the rear wheel 15.

After the use of the jack has been completed the car is started forward, releasing the jack so that it .can be raised to the inactive trailing position by the jack spring 27. In order to make such release substantially instantaneous and positive, involving the use of the engine drive, the plate 24 is provided with a hook-end 28 that overhangs the pin 18 in the engaging position. The plate 24 is provided with a return bend, providing a seat 29 into which the pin 18 is nestled. The pin '18 makes first contact with the plate 24 radially outwardly beyond the hook-end 28. The shaft 30 on which the jack 25 swings is below and slightly to the rear of the axle housing 23. As the jack is depressed, in opposition to the jack spring 27, the pin 18 slides along the plate 24 until finally it is nestled as mentioned within the return bend seat 29 so that the pin and the jack are operatively connected for two-way move ment in conjunction with the rotative movement of the rear wheel 15. That is to say, when the rear wheeel 15 is rotated for rearward movement the stub-pin 18 cooperates With the op posed face of the body of the slide plate or corn tact plate 24 for the normal function of depressing the rear jack 25, thus effecting a one-way movement of the jack. With the jack fully depressed to the approximately vertical position, the pin 13 is closely opposed to the curved returnbend seat 29 and thus is located under the overhanging hook-end 28. Thus the pin 18 is operatively engaged with the rear jack 25 for reverse movement, corresponding to forward movement of the automobile and the rear wheel 15.

The jack 25 like all of the jacks is provided with a shoe 32 for contacting with the ground and a shoe-spring 33 that effects a relative positioning of the parts for efficient operation.

Such efiicient operation involves a firm contact with the ground or roadbed, substantially regardless of the specific conditions thereof. What is desired for the jack is a relatively large contact area and means for ensuring that this area will be properly positioned for making the desired supporting contact.

' The structure shown meets this condition. The shoe 32 is pivotally supported. The shoe-spring 33 so positions the shoe 32 that the contact surface or face is initially at an inclination to the axis of the jack. As the jack is dropped, some part of the face initially makes contact with the roadbed. As the movement is continued, the jack assumes more nearly a vertical position and the shoe makes full-face contact with the support and continues such full face contact subsequently under all operating conditions.

The sliding plate 24 extends along the upper side of the jack 25 and provides the lock for the jack by its forward end 34 which is slid under a fixed edge 35 for effecting the locking. Said forward locking end 34 after being freed from the locking engagement serves to hold the plate 24 in the outer position for maintaining the engagement of the pin 18 with the plate 24 .by making sliding engagement by its tip edge 36 with the inside of the arcuate guide 3'7. Said guide 37 serves to hold the jack actuating parts in engagement until the jack is returned to the elevated position and the locking end 34 is brought into registration with the open space below the edge 35. Said fixed edge 35 is the tip end or edge of the arcuate guide 37.

The slide actuating means comprise a lever 38 that swings onv the pivot 39 and'that by its upper end 40 engages against the slide plate 24 at the forward end 34 thereof, full movement thereof being provided for by means of a slot 41 in the opposed edge 35 of the arcuate guide 37.

The slide actuating lever 38 is operated from its lower end 42 by means of a pull on a drive wire 43 that is connected to the proper button 12 and which wire is operatively guided by means of an enclosing flexible tubular armor 44 that may be bent more or less freely within reasonable limits. Said armor 44 is secured to the chassis of the automobile in any proper manner. The pivot 39 for the lever 38 is carried by a web 45 that is provided as part of a bracket 46 that is clamped to some part oft the car structure, such as the shock absorber plate or the like, as may be convenient.

The arcuate guide 37 is part of the bracket 46. Said bracket likewise serves to provide either bearings for other parts or bearing supports and a shelf 47 for the switch 48.

The bearing for the jack 25 is provided by the shaft 30 and this shaft is integral with the bracket 46. The free end of said shaft 30 is provided with extra support by being entered through a fitting opening in a bracket plate 49 that is removably applied to the bracket proper, the lower end of said plate 49 being fitted to the shelf 4'? by a dovetail connection 50.

The switch 48 is of the plunger type, spring operated for opening, with the plunger end in the path'of a bumper 51 that is carried by the jack 25. The switch operating parts are adjusted to close the circuit for the signal lamp 52 that is mounted on the dash 11, at or closely near the moment that the car part operated upon has been elevated to the proper amount.

The plate 49 likewise provides one of the bearings for the shaft 22 for the swinging lever 19 that cooperates with the rear wheel for operating the jack 20 for the front wheel 53. A spring 54 tends to locate the lever 19 in its normal forwardly inclined position against the rear axle housing 23.

In use, the swinging lever 19 is first pushed rearwardly for the setting operation so as to elevate the contacting free end portion 21 and bring I the same in the path'of the drive nose 17. This result is one of the operations effected by pulling the proper button 12. In the subsequent action responsive to rearward rotation of the car wheel the swinging lever 19 operates through tension to pull the front jack downwardly to the car supporting position. The connecting means with the swinging lever 19 is in the form of a connecting-rod member 55, which, for reasons mentioned, is adapted first to exert thrust and later to operate under tension.

Another characteristic required of the connecting-rod member is flexibility, to permit of responding to the rocking movements of the car without damage. This condition ,is met by 0p: eratively enclosing the same with guide 1 leans to an appreciable extent, with the intermediate portions of both made flexible.

Thus, .both may be said to be of composite structure. In the case of the rod member 55, the rear part 56 isof relatively heavy rod form, connected by the rear end to the swinging lever 19, and projecting forwardly through an operative- 1y fitting guide tube 57. The front end portion 58 is likewise in the form of a rod. The major portion of the front rod 58 is exposed and the rear end thereof is entered into a junction tube 63 that is guided within aguide tube 59. Intermediate the rods 56 and 58 is a cable 68. Entermediate the guide tubes 57 and 59 is a flexible enclosing armor 61.

The flexible armor 61 is theonly part of the enclosing structure that is rigidly secured to the chassis and such rigid connection is made preferably-at no morethan two points, as indicated The junction tube'63 mentioned is in the form of a coupling for connecting the opposed ends of thecable 6G and the front rod 58 and appears as an enlargement of the adjacent connected portions of the said cable and front rod 58, each and both of which are parts of the rod mem ber 55. This tube-enlargement 63 is utilized as the contact bumper for pushing the swinging lever 19 during the setting operation. The pushing means is in the form of a push-tube G'ithat slides on the front rod 58. Pulling the pushtube rearwardly along the rod member 55 against the coupling enlargement 63 effects the neces-v 4 sary setting.

besides effecting the setting mentioned effects:-

first, the release of the front jack lock, and, secondly, what may be described as another detail of the setting, bringing the front rod part 58 of the connecting-rod member 55 into-operative en-. gagement with the front jackso as to be ready for depressing the jack responsive to theproper rearward movement of the car wheel.

Thefront jack 20 is normally in horizontal trailing position and held there by a lock lug 66a that is entered in the space under the opposed edge 67a of the arcuateguide 68. Said. guide 68 is part of a casting'69 that is preferably welded to the front axle 70. The lock lug 66a is part of a slide plate 71 that is mounted for. sliding on the body of the jack .20 and that is provided with a positioning spring 72.

The jack 20 comprises the trailing body or main arm73 and a branch army 74 that meets said main arm '73 at an obtuse angle, so thatnormallyit projects upwardly from the axis and forwardlyso as to meet by its 'upperend- 75 the con necting-rod member 55, more specifically, the

front-rod part 58 thereof.

The casting 69 provides support for the switch 76 and the bumper cooperating contacting member "77 for operating the same and carried by the jack 201may be'a part of the slide plate 71.

' A collar 78 on therod 58 by contacting with the arm end 75 provides for. one-way movement of the arm 7land jack 20 responsive to tension onthe connecting-rod member 55. The rod 58 is guided through the arm end 75 by some form of swivel connection. Thus the arm end 75=may be forked, as shown, a bushing or short shaft 79 extended across the open space between the fork arms and supported for rotative movement, and the rod 58 may be slidable in an opening 80 therein.

Duringthe setting operation responsive to pulling the button 12 the collar 78 is brought into engaging position with the arm end 75. This result may be regarded as another detail in the setting operation as pertains to the manipulation of the front jack 20. Such setting is efifected by hand. The relatively heavy work of moving the jack in opposition to its spring is reserved for the engine power.

The period between pulling the button 12 and the actual contacting of the collar 78 with the arm 74 and the beginning of the power action as distinguished from hand action may be designated as the lost motion period. During this period the work merely involves sliding the rod 58 in the opening 80 in the swivel connection in opposition to the spring 54 and moving such parts as are associated with said rod 58, including the swinging lever 19.

The heavy work is done inv opposition to the spring 27, shown diagrammatically by broken lines in Fig. 7, that effects the positioning of the U front jack 20.

This lost motion condition or period is utilized for the release of the look by withdrawing the lock lug 66c from the locking position in opposition to its spring 72. Said lock lug 66a-is held in the withdrawn position by contacting with the arcuate guide 68 while the jack 20 is depressed from thenormal inactive position.

' The lock lug movement is effected by means of a cam-rod 81 that is slidably mounted onthe upper side of the jack branch arm 74 in cooperation with a cam-wing 82 that is a part of the slide plate '71. Said cam-rod 81 is provided with a tapered engaging nose 83 on the end that is opposed to the cam-wing 82.

The actuating means for the cam-rod 81 is the bent lever 84 that is pivoted to the branch arm 74 and that by slotted arms engages respectively the rod 58 and the cam-rod 81.

The short arm 84a. is provided with a slot 85 in whichtravels apin 86 that is secured to the camrod 81. The long arm 87 has a slot 88 in which travels a connecting screw 89 that is supported by the collar 78.

The switch actuating contact 77 for the front jack 20 as shown is provided as part of the slide plate '71, which slides relatively to the jack body 73, as a matter of convenience, and this may be provided as a fixed part of the said jack body.

Reverting to consideration of the pull wire 65 I that is located intermediate the proper button 12 the enclosing guide tube 57.

of the non-flexible guide tube 59. Said opening 95 is made large enough to receive and rigidly house the end of a diminutive enclosing armor 96 that extends along over the wire right up to the dash 11.

The arcuate guide 68 has been mentioned as holding the lock for the front jack in the unlocked position while the jack for the front wheel is depressed from the normal inactive and locked position. This corresponds to the means that are provided for the lock for the rear jack. The function in detail for each is to hold the respective slide plates away from the locking position.

In the case of the front jack 20, this function can be performed by the cam-rod 81 in its engagement with the cam-wing 82 by its body part. The rod nose 83 engages the wing 82, thus pushing along the slide plate 71 and the body of the rod 81 maintains the plate 71 in the pushed-along condition.

In the electric circuit diagram the two switches 76 represent the two switches for the front jacks and the switches 48 the two for the rear jacks. Other parts indicated are the distributor points 99 and the spark coil 91. Likewise there is shown the switch 92 that represents the motor switch, which, as shown, controls the circuits for the diiferent jack switches 48 and 76. Ihe battery 93 and the grounds 94 are conventionally shown.

In the matter of the rear end of the connectingrod member as provided by the rigid rod part 56. this is referred to as operatively fitting within The element that actually fits within said guide tube is a coupling 63 that is precisely like the coupling 63 already described and located at the other end of the cable 60.

The elements of the enclosing guide structure, comprising the guide tubes 5? and 59 at the ends and the flexible armor 61 in between, the junctions of these parts are made by brazing or welding. The flexible armor 61 may be secured to the chassis at points 62, as suggested in Figs. 1

and 2, in any proper manner.

As escribed, What may be referred to as the drive means for the jacks is provided in the form of the rim-lug 13 that is applied to the rim of the rear wheel for moving the jacks for the two wheels on the corresponding side of the car.

This arrangement is operatively successful.

There may be instances in which it may be desirable to use some other means than the rim and rim-lug. The scope of the invention is intended to comprise such other means and modifications.

Each rear wheel in the combination under consideration is mounted on an axle that is enclosed in the axle housing, the two axles at the rear projected inwardly from the respective whlcls by their inner opposed ends are operat've incorporated the differential.

Each axle is rotatively a unit with its Wheel.

Therefore, some part other than the wheel itself that rotates as a unit with the wheel is intended to be regarded as included in the invention.

The construction and arrangement here set forth is believed to be as elementary as can be so far as can be applied to automobiles dy built and on the road. That is to say, a minimum of change in the car structure is involved.

If the invention is to be applied to new cars and incorporated therein in the factory, there will be less objection to the use of relatively more elaborate details.

I claim as my invention:-

1. In an automobile-jack combination, an automobile having an axle structure, a jack arranged to swing on an axis adjacent said structure and provided with spring means that tends to locate said jack in an elevated position, a wheel having 9. lug, means for cooperating with said lug for depressing said jack in the form of a movable part, a spring device serving normally to restrain said movable part, and hand operated means for operating said movable part in opposition to said spring device.

2. In an automobile-jack combination as described in claim 1, lock means for said jack having a slidable part, said slidable part being associated with said movable part for substantially simultaneous movement therewith by said spring device in one direction and by said hand operated means in the other direction.

3. In an automobile-jack combination as described in claim 1, said axle structure being the rear axle housing and said wheel being a rear wheel, a lock having a slidable part, and said movable part and said slidable part being parts of a single plate structure that is arranged to slide on the jack.

4:. In an automobile-jack combination as described in claim 1, said axle structure being the front axle and said wheel being a rear wheel, a lock having a slidable part, the movable part being in the form of a swinging lever, and the said slidable part being in the form of a plate structure.

5. In an automobile-jack combination as described in claim 1, a switch for closing the circuit for a signal lamp located so as to be operated by said jack when in the depressed position.

6. In an automobile-jack combination as described in claim 1, said movable part having means for two-way engagement with said lug, respectively, the one way for depressing the jack in opposition to said spring means, and the other way for initially assisting said spring means in bringing the jack to the elevated position.

'7. In an automobile-jack combination, an automobile having a rear wheel and axle structure and a front wheel and axle structure, a jack pivotally hung from adjacent one of said axle structures so as to be adapted to be swung rearwardly to the inactive position and forwardly to contact with the ground in pendant position, spring means tending to elevate said jack to the inactive position, lock means having a slidable part for locking said jack in such inactive position, dash supported operating means for operating said. slidable part, a shiftable mechanical contact device associated with said slidable part so as to be adapted to be likewise moved by said dash operated means, and said rear wheel being provided with a lug for cooperating with said contact device for moving said jack in opposition to said spring means.

8. In an automobile-jack combination as described in claim '7, said axle structure from which the jack is hung being the rear axle structure, and said slidable part of the lock means and said shiftable mechanical contact device being both part of the lock means being in the form of a plate that is mounted for sliding on said jack.

10. In an automobile-jack combination as described in claim '7, means for checking said slidable part of the lock means against return movement while the jack is swung away from the normal locked position.

i1..In an automobile-jack combination as described in claim 7, said one of the axle structures being the front axle structure and said Wheel being a rear wheel.

12. In an automobile-jack combination as described in claim 7, said shiftable contact device and said jack being provided having interconnecting means that comprise a connecting-rod member that is pivoted by one end to the device, the other end thereof sliding in the jack and having a contact collar.

13. In an automobile-jack combination, an automobile having front and rear axle structures, a jack hung from one of said structures by one end of a body part the other end of said body part being provided with a shoe part for making contact with the ground and that is hingedly connected to said body part and spring means constantly pressing on said shoe for providing a definite positioning of the shoe relatively to the body part.

14. In an automobile-jack combination, an automobile having front and rear axle structures, a jack associated with the front axle structure, means associated with the rear axle structure for shifting said jack, and connecting means comprising a connecting-rod member that extends generally along the space intermediate the two axle structures, said member being in the form of lengths of rod at the two ends with a cable intermediate thereto, enclosing tubular guide means for said member consisting of lengths of tubing for cooperating with said rod lengths and flexible armor for cooperating with the cable.

15. In an automobile-jack combination as described in claim 14, pull-actuating means for said member in the form of a pull-wire that is enclosed in guiding armor.

16. In an automobile jack combination, an automobile having an axle structure, a jack having a body part that is pivotally hung by one end from adjacent said axle structure and that has a free end, and a shoe for contacting with the ground hingedly connected to said free end, and said shoe having a face for making supporting contact with the ground, and spring means supported from said body part and pressing against said shoe for facilitating engagement of said face with the ground.

17. In an automobile structure, a front and rear axle structure and a chassis operatively supported therefrom, a movable part generally located adj acent said front axle structure and a second movable part adjacent said rear axle structure, a connecting rod member operatively intercon-i necting said movable parts, said member comprising as a portion of its length a flexible cable-like part, a tubular guide operatively enclosing said connecting rod member, and said guide structure comprising a flexible portion that encloses said cable-like part.

18. In an automobile structure, a front and rear axle structure and a chassis operatively supported therefrom, a movable part generally located adjacent said front axle structure and a second movable part adjacent said rear axle structure, a connecting rod member operatively interconnecting said movable parts, said member comprising as a portion of its length a flexible cable-like part, a tubular guide structure operatively enclosing said member and-comprising a flexible portion that encloses said cable-like part, means for operatively supporting said tubular guide structure from said chassis, and said means being confined to a plurality of connected points that are distributed along the length of the said flexible portion thereof.

19. In an automobile structure, a front and a rear axle device and a chassis operatively supported therefrom, movable parts associated respectively with said axle devices, a connectingrod member consisting of rod-like end parts that are individually connected to said movable parts and a cable part intermediate said end parts, and means for operatively supporting said connectingrod member from said automobile structure.

20. In an automobile structure as described in claim 19, said supporting means comprising a tubular enclosing structure that consists of rigid tube parts for cooperating with said end parts and an intermediate flexible armor that is generally in registration with said cable part.

21. In an automobile structure as described in claim 19, said supporting means comprising a tubular enclosing structure that comprises a flexible armor part that is operatively in registration with said cable part and means for securing said enclosing structure to said automobile structure, and said securing means being confined to devices that cooperate With said flexible armor part to the exclusion of any and all other portions of said tubular enclosing structure,

HENRY A. COTE.

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